Trey Mullinax surged into contention during the third round of the Valero Texas Open, shooting a 10-under 62 that set a new course record on the AT&T Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio.
Mullinax started the day seven shots off the pace, but his sizzling round left him alone in third place through 54 holes, one shot off the lead. The former Alabama standout caught fire on the back nine, shooting a 7-under 29 despite a bogey after chip-ins for eagle on No. 14 and birdie on No. 16 to go along with an eagle on the home hole.
“It’s probably one of the best rounds I’ve ever had,” Mullinax told reporters. “To go out there and shoot 62 on a hard golf course is really good.”
Mullinax appeared headed for a missed cut after a 74 in the opening round, but he bounced back with a second-round 68 to earn a weekend tee time and his third-round score broke the previous course record of 63 held by multiple players.
Full-field scores from the Valero Texas Open
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The 25-year-old finished 137th in FedExCup points last season, leaving him with only conditional status this season. His lone top-10 finish of the year came at the Valspar Championship, where he survived a Monday qualifier and went on to tie for eighth, and this marks only his third start since the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February.
“Obviously I would like to play a little more, but the tournaments I get in, I’m really excited about playing golf,” Mullinax said. “I’ve loved every start I’ve gotten, and I’m very thankful to be in the position I’m in.”
Mullinax holed a putt to clinch a national title for the Crimson Tide in 2014, and he finished T-9 at last year’s U.S. Open at Erin Hills. But success has been fleeting among the professional ranks, meaning Sunday’s opportunity to notch a career-best finish or breakthrough victory is nothing short of enticing.
“I’m sure you’ll be nervous,” Mullinax said. “To have a chance to win or just go play good golf is what I came here for, so that’s what I’m going to do.”
Source: Internet
